by Mary Abshire
"Wow, that wolf is built," Gail said.
Nodding, I couldn't help but notice his large frame too. An aviator jacket similar to Alan's covered his broad shoulders. Wide hips and thighs indicated the man had plenty of muscles. He sat across from Alan at the small round table.
"Another fr—"
"No." I stopped Gail from finishing her sentence. I widened my eyes and shook my head. The last thing Alan needed was for Troy to hear us.
Catching my hint, she gave me a nod. "Okay…"
I breathed in deeply and glanced over my shoulder. The two men were engaged in conversation, both confident and calm—a typical business meeting, by all appearances. I really wished I was sitting closer so I could hear their conversation.
"Hey," Donnie said, claiming my attention. He flattened his arm on the table between the laptop and Gail. "I saw you go inside the store with a policeman and a priest."
"Yeah. What was that about?" Gail asked with curiosity in her tone.
Donnie removed his arm from the table. "Did you see anything?"
While I couldn't hide what I'd seen, I didn't have to give them all the details. "If you're asking me if I saw a ghost, no, I did not see one."
"Did you see Hank's body?" Gail asked with a gleam in her eyes.
"I probably shouldn't talk about it, but yes, I saw his body." Not knowing if they would blab their mouths or not, like Dani often had, I decided not to give them specific details of the crime scene.
"Oh, wow," Gail said.
"Was there a lot of blood?" Donnie asked.
"I saw some," I replied hesitantly.
"Why did they let you go back there?" Gail asked.
Crap, she was getting too nosey. What could I say? I quickly conjured an answer.
"The priest is a friend of a friend and he knows I can sense evil spirits. He wanted me to see if any were around."
"That's weird." Gail eyed me suspiciously.
"What's more bizarre to me is that you were with a priest," Donnie said.
"Unlike you two, I can actually step inside a church and stand next to a priest."
Gail crossed her arms. Her face tightened. "So, we're to believe your friendly priest invited you to stroll around and look for evil spirits in a grocery store."
"Smells like bullshit to me," Donnie said.
"Reeks of it," Gail added.
"All right, all right," I said with a hint of irritation in my tone. Damn it, I really didn't want to start any more trouble or rumors, but I had no other believable excuses to offer. "You have to promise me and give me your word that what I tell you does not go beyond the three of us."
Gail uncrossed her arms and exchanged a glance with Donnie.
"I won't say anything," he said, meeting my eyes.
"I need a promise from both of you," I said.
"I promise," Gail said.
Donnie nodded. "Me too."
I inhaled a deep breath and leaned over the table. "The priest knows I was a paranormal investigator. He thinks a supernatural creature might be the murderer, so he wanted me to go inside, look around, and see if I could find any traces or signs of a demon or anything out of the ordinary." I didn't lie, but I sure didn't give them the full truth either.
"My dad said he heard a rumor the police think the killings might be part of a ritual," Donnie said, his voice low.
"The policeman asked me that and I told them I didn't know enough about rituals to give a solid answer. And quite honestly, I didn't see anything unusual." Other than all the victims' mouths were wide open and their souls were gone. No need to mention those details.
"Wow, that's crazy," Gail said softly. "I know some witches who dabble with the dark arts, but I have never heard of a ritual that involves killing a person. That's so ancient. People don't do that."
Donnie shook his head in disgust. When his black bangs covered his eyes, he pushed them aside. "There are evil fucks in the world, including humans."
My thoughts exactly, though I didn't say it.
"You cannot say a word to anyone about what I told you," I said in a stern voice.
"We won't," Gail said first, and then Donnie.
I leaned back in my seat, relieved I had cleared their suspicious minds. How appropriate Donnie had heard a rumor via his father. For once, luck was on my side.
Minutes later, I glanced over my shoulder to check on Alan. He faced Troy with a hardened look on his face, as if he was concerned, or in deep thought. Troy's lips moved while he nodded. I wondered what he was telling Alan to make the Alpha's features so tight.
"Hey, Jessie," Gail said, and I redirected my attention.
Donnie had his gaze focused on the laptop.
"We were thinking of going out to the graveyard two nights from now. Would you want to come with us to check for any evil spooks walking around?"
"Christmas Eve," Donnie said, keeping his eyes fixed on the screen in front of him.
Christmas Eve in a graveyard? Okay, first, I totally forgot Christmas was so close. Second, looking for an evil spook on Christmas Eve just seemed wrong on every level.
"I'll have to think about it. I'm not sure what my boyfriend's plans are," I said.
A million thoughts rushed through my head. Christmas was only two days away. Dani would be here. I hadn't shopped at all. What would Drake want? What would I get for Dani? Alan and Ryan would still probably be here. I needed to get them gifts, too. Holy crap, I needed to shop!
"Found something," Donnie said, a grin spreading on his face. He turned the laptop sideways.
I leaned closer to Gail to see the screen. A video clip played on YouTube showing a cloudy image drifting along through a cemetery.
"Do they look like that?" Donnie followed the misty blur on the screen with his finger.
"No. No, they don't look anything like that." I never understood why people believed spirits appeared as white clouds or mists. Then again, not many people could actually see ghosts.
"What do they look like?" Gail asked.
"They look just like you or me. They look…real."
Donnie placed his fingers over the keys and typed in the search bar. The three of us watched as the screen change and a list of video options appeared.
"Ready to go?" Alan asked, and I jerked my head sideways. He stood at my side with trepidation in his eyes.
I slid off the chair to my feet. "Yeah, sure."
"Oh, look." Donnie clicked on a link. Two seconds later, a video played.
I veered my gaze from the screen back to Alan. "Did he leave?"
"Yes, he left. We have a few items we need to discus." His flat tone made me think something was wrong.
Turning back to Gail and Donnie, I opened my mouth to tell them goodbye when an image of Jeremy on the screen captured my attention. My eyes widened.
Gail peered closer, leaning over the table. "Wow, that person looks just like you."
Donnie looked from the screen, to me, then back to the screen. "Your twin maybe, without the highlights."
My heart pounded as I stared at the laptop. The video showed Jeremy, me, and two spooks. I recognized the footage. Dani had recorded it when we went to the Burgess home in Indianapolis. I had sent a male and female spirit to Hell. Dani had told me she would destroy the video. Obviously, she hadn't.
"What's she doing?" Gail asked.
The image showed me wedge between the spooks. Slowly, the man's spirit flowed into my mouth before it disappeared.
Donnie lifted his bangs while he watched the screen. "It's gone. The ghost is gone." His soft voice indicated shock.
Gail and Donnie watched the video closely as it showed the female's spirit flying into my mouth.
"We should go," Alan said into my ear, his warm breath sending a shiver down my spine.
I stood frozen, unable to believe the video of me on the Internet. I couldn't go, not when two people I'd come to be friends with were watching me suck evil souls on YouTube.
Anger sparked a rise in my temperature
. Dani promised me she would destroy the footage. She’d lied. When had Dani put the video on the Internet? How long had it been on YouTube? I needed to have a serious chat with her.
When the video ended, Gail and Donnie directed their large eyes to me. I couldn't avoid hiding from them any longer. They would play the clip over and over, and if it had sound, I could not deny it was me in the video. Motherfucker!
Gritting my teeth, I turned to Alan. How on earth was I going to explain the truth?
Chapter Nineteen
"I can't believe it," Donnie said from the front passenger seat. He twisted around to face me for the tenth time. "You send souls to Hell?"
"That is so awesome." Gail glimpsed at me through her rearview mirror while she drove down the two-lane road.
Curiosity shone in their eyes while excitement strengthened their voices. Once I confessed the truth to them and answered their questions, I was their new play toy.
"I would appreciate if you didn't say a word to anyone. I'm hiding from the VETOV," I said.
"The Vampires for the Ethical Treatment of Other Vampires?" Donnie asked.
"The one and only. If they find me, I'm as good as dead and so is my boyfriend."
"My dad told me about them. He said they were nice," Donnie said.
A laugh nearly escaped me. His dad thought they were nice? Sure they were, once they got what they wanted.
"Don't be fooled," I said, glaring at him.
"No worries. I won't say a word to anyone. I promise on my soul," Donnie said with a smile. He settled back in his seat and faced Gail. "Your turn, and you better mean it."
Gail made short glances in the mirror. "You have my word. I won't tell anyone living or dead."
"Thank you," I said, though their promises offered little comfort to me. I'd only known them a short time. Could I really trust them? I'd known Dani for over three years and she'd betrayed my trust.
"Turn right at the next light," I said, recognizing the area. I twisted to look out the back window. A large SUV with bright lights followed close behind Gail's car. Alan had tailed us since we left the coffee shop. He agreed to let me leave with Gail and Donnie so I could talk to them. Secretly, I think he wanted a few minutes alone to go over his conversation with Gabe's Alpha. I'd probe him for details later.
"Here?" Gail asked, slowing the car.
I turned to face the front. "Yes. Here."
Gail steered the car off the main street. "How many souls have you sent to Hell?" She drove slowly down the long curvy road.
"Not too many. Until seven months ago, I caught them only when I went on investigations with my best friend."
"Does that werewolf you're with know?" she asked.
"Yes, and his name is Alan Vandett. I actually helped him with a problem once."
Donnie's head jerked over his shoulder. "The Alan Vandett of Vandett Trucking?"
"That would be the one," I said in a soft voice.
He leaned into the gap between the front seats. "Holy shit! This is awesome!" His excitement matched that of someone who'd won a million dollars. "You know high-class werewolves,"—he stuck out his forefinger— "you're on the run from the oldest vampires on the earth,"—the middle finger sprang out— "you talk to priests,"—out came the third—"and you send souls to Hell. I'd say we have a real celebrity in town."
Celebrity? Was he kidding? I was the most wanted woman with a target on my forehead.
"Trust me, I'm not a celebrity. I came here to hide and live. I'd trade in my shoes if I could." And I meant it. I would never say the phrase “try walking in my shoes” because at no point would I want someone to go through the struggles I'd endured. My mother committed suicide to escape and save me. A caring warlock took me under his care and was now dead because of me. After meeting the VETOV, I had to give up my friends, the life I'd known, and go into hiding. Oh, and how could I forget the numerous times I'd nearly died? I wouldn't wish my life on anyone.
The amusement in Donnie's face quickly disappeared. He settled back into his seat, facing the front. Silence lasted until Gail drew near Drake's house.
"Do you see that multilevel house with lights on?" I asked and she slowed the vehicle. "Turn in there."
She followed my directions and turned into the driveway. "You live here?"
"Yes, it's Drake's house, my boyfriend."
"He lived here before?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"No, but he said he stayed here. A friend of his bought it and kept it up for him."
She stopped in front of the garage door. I scooted across the back seat. "Thanks for the ride." I pushed the door open. Cool air greeted me as I stepped outside. I shut the door as Gail's window lowered.
"Hey, Jessie," she said. "If you ever need someone to talk to or just want to get away, give us a call."
"Thank you. I appreciate that," I said.
A crunching sound behind the vehicle alerted me. My skin tickled, electrified by the energy drawing near. Alan approached with quick steps. He'd parked his SUV in front of the house.
"I'll call you later," I said, backing away from the car.
"Promise?"
I nodded and waved to her. "Promise."
As she backed out of the driveway, I headed for the front door. Alan had already beaten me to it.
"Did you manage to take care of everything?" he asked as Ryan opened the door.
Ryan let go of the knob and jogged down the stairs, more like leaped after two steps. Alan and I stomped our feet on the rug before entering the entryway.
"I told them the truth. I couldn't hide it anymore. They promised to keep it a secret," I said, dislodging the shoe from my foot. My balance wavered. I had to lean against the wall for support.
Alan placed his nice shoes on the mat near the door. "And you believe them?" He straightened and met my gaze. "These demons that you met only recently?"
"Yeah, I do. They seem friendly, and I don't get any bad vibes from them." I dropped my last shoe next to his.
Alan slid his leather jacket off his shoulders. "Since I don't know them, I'm having one of my men follow them."
Once he exposed the bare flesh of his neck, my gaze shifted to the dark lines of his tattoo. I blinked my eyes to snap out of his magnetic lure.
"They're good people, really. I don't sense any arrogance, hostility, or selfishness," I said in their defense.
Alan swung the jacket over his shoulder. "In my business, I would rather be safe than sorry."
I followed him down the stairs. As Alpha and leader of the number one trucking company in America, he had valid reasons for taking precautions. I couldn't be mad at him.
Ryan sat on a stool at the island in the kitchen. He stared at the laptop in front of his face. Alan hung his jacket over the back of one of the recliners in the living room before he took a seat on the sofa, facing the kitchen. I stopped in the middle between the two rooms, wondering who was going to say something first. Alan leaned back and threaded his fingers behind his head. Ryan continued working on the computer. Since neither seemed concerned or anxious to speak about the meeting, I decided to bring it up.
"Are you going to tell us what happened when you met with Troy?" Since Ryan and I were the only ones around, Alan had no reason to hold back from us.
Ryan twisted around. "Troy didn't send any men to follow. He seems to be honoring all pack rules."
"I'm not surprised." Alan inhaled a deep breath and his chest expanded as if he were a balloon enlarging with air. "He told me Gabe informed him an hour before the meeting what had happened in Phoenix. Gabe told him about the challenge, kidnapping Jessie, about her ability, and why I expelled Gabe. Troy knows everything."
"Really? And he was okay with that jerk betraying you?" I would've thought the ultimate act of betrayal would've kicked Gabe to the curb regardless of what pack he ran with. Loyalty was a highly valued quality in every pack.
"He condemns what Gabe did," Alan said.
Ryan stood up and ambled t
oward me. "Is he going to hand Gabe over?"
My head swiveled from Ryan to Alan. The Alpha's blank expression said plenty.
"Does he support Gabe?" Just my luck, Gabe found a family willing to fight with him. Maybe coming to Alaska was not such a good idea. I didn't want a werewolf war on my conscience.
Alan unlocked his hands from behind his head. "He doesn't support Gabe. He protects him, as any Alpha should. Gabe showed up months ago and swore his devotion to Troy—"
"Devotion? He was your guard. He swore his loyalty to you and stabbed you in the back," I said, irritation weighing my tone down.
"Gabe has been loyal to Troy all these months. As Alpha, Troy believes it is his duty to protect his pack brother."
I tossed my hands up. This was absolutely ridiculous. I wanted to scream nasty curse words, but I held my tongue.
Ryan shook his head. "So he won't do anything."
Alan rose and slipped his hands into the pockets of his khakis. "He will not deliver Gabe to us freely and he will not punish Gabe since his crimes occurred with another pack. Gabe has played by the rules here in Alaska."
"So the fucker gets to walk around like nothing happened," I said, feeling the onslaught of sweat as my temperature spiked.
Ryan shot his gaze at Alan. "You said Troy wouldn't hand Gabe over freely. Did he ask for something in exchange?"
Alan stepped closer. "As you know, everything has a price." His gaze veered from Ryan to me.
"What?" My heart raced. "What could he possibly want from me?" I had nothing—no money, house, car, or job. I barely had friends. Drake owned everything. Drake supported me.
"He wants nothing from you." He lazily batted his eyelids at me. "He wants something from me."
I took a step back, confused beyond capacity. What would an Alpha want from Alan that the Alpha didn't already have? I was certain Troy had money, a nice house, a fine car, women, a strong community of followers, and so much more. What more could he want?
"What did he ask for?" Ryan squeezed his fists tight at his sides. Clearly, he expected something outrageous.
"He wants seventy percent of the Trucking company," Alan replied.
